Sharks, Penguins, Turtles and Snakes

While the current Stanley Cup final calls for Sharks vs. Penguins, the wildlife I encounter features just as much variety: Last week I spotted lots and lots of turtles along Ladybird Lake and one even sat quietly on the trail surrounding the lake. This weekend on my walk along the neighborhood wood and bush trail I walked upon – a giant, sunbathing snake! *OMG* At first I thought it was dead and I considered stepping over it. But my instinct knew better and retreated a few steps to consider the situation from afar – and sure enough: The snake lifted its head, darted its tongue in and out a couple of times and snaked its way off the path into the shrubberies. While quietly watching the snake I must have looked like a version of Edvard Munch’s painting The Scream.

And while keeping a cautious eye towards those same bushes I went on with my walk, undisturbed – most certainly because of my Gene Wilder-like stomp (see scene at 50m 20s) – and to this very day contemplating the kind of snake it may have been… If I was hard pressed for an answer I’d say it was a Desert Kingsnake, but couldn’t be sure. Because for quite obvious reasons I was reluctant to move my eyes away from the snake only to take a photo of it. Because I’m not a huge fan of “Look: selfie with snake – how cool’s thaaattt… arrrgh…”

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4 thoughts on “Sharks, Penguins, Turtles and Snakes”

I can understand that you didn’t take a photo of the snake! I remember once, when I was little, and I saw one. At first I thought it was a hose, but then I approached and saw that the hose had a head! I jumped and run, and it was a very small one, haha!
Love the drawing of the turtles, they’re so cute! 🙂
Have a nice weekend!

They are a creepy species, the snakes. Though they don’t really gross me out like spiders do, it’s still kinda spine-tingling to encounter one.
And thanks! I finally tried myth hand at watercolor again for the turtles and had fun with it!
Have a most splendid weekend as well!

Wow. Glad you waited for it to move! We went hiking in the local mountains on Memorial weekend and at the end of the hike, was. Walking on the side of the trail only to hear a rattle as I stepped past a coiled snake hiding in the gutter at the side. I was already past him and relieved he rattled first…

That is soooo creepy!! Rattlers give me the creeps as they’re a species we don’t have in Switzerland and with them being so poisonous and all… They’re certainly no joke!!
Glad you got safely past it as well!!!